I've Been Downsized: Chapter 9

Road Trip!

I’ve had so much to ponder over the past 70 days. Where will I work? When will I work again? Will being out of the marketing game cause me to lose the edge?

Well, there’s nothing like a road trip to clear your head. So, like any good Michigan family, we packed the kids in the SUV and headed south for spring break!

Well Played, Waffle House…

As we drove south on Interstate 75, we did the usual things to pass the time; license plate bingo, guess what’s in that truck, and our family favorite- Waffle House bingo. If you’ve ever had the fortitude to drive from Michigan to Florida on Interstate 75, you know there are approximately 96 Waffle House restaurants visible from the interstate. This is a hotly contested number within our family, because he or she who spots the most Waffle House restaurants wins. The rules are simple; you must spot the actual restaurant, you must be the first to spot it, and at least one person in the vehicle must substantiate your siting. But, the Waffle House tally always starts to be disputed around the Tennessee border.

And Now, a Word from Our Sponsor…

In between Waffle House sightings, I found myself rambling about the billboards we passed.

Dunkin’ Donuts! Brilliant! See how they’ve rebranded themselves from a donut shop that happens to sell coffee into a coffee shop that happens to sell donuts?! Smart move! Coffee is the trend and junk food consumption is declining. Kids? Hmm. They must be sleeping.

Ruby Tuesday! The garden bar used to be part of their value proposition. They justified charging for it when other restaurants threw in the salad bar free. Now, I see they’re including it with 20 entrees. That’s really eroding their brand equity. Honey? Hmm. He must be sleeping too.

Hard Rock Café! You know why we love Hard Rocks so much? They’re selling a total experience- not just food! The food is great, but the atmosphere is so cool. It’s the total package. Guys? Hmm. They must all be sleeping.

On the Road Again…

Vacation over, money spent, we loaded kids back into the SUV to head north. On the way, we stopped for the night at the same hotel we stayed in on the way south just a week earlier. As we checked out the next morning, a survey popped into my email. How was your stay? Hmm, I pondered. The same survey I had received a week earlier. Hey, guys, do you think their survey results are skewed based on how people feel when they’re heading south versus north? Guys?...

I may not have found all the answers on this trip, but I did learn one thing. I haven’t lost my marketing edge. Now, why are there so many Waffle House restaurants?...

Kristina Marsh is an accomplished marketing, communications, and business process leader.  Want to connect?  You can reach me at klmarsh74@gmail.com.